Improved washing-machine



NPETERS, PNDTUALITMOGRAPHER. wAsmNGTON. D. C.

initrd gratta WILLIAM F. GOODWIN, 0F

METUGHEN, NEW JERSEY.

Letters Patent No. 101,005, dated March 22, 1870.

MPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WXLLIAM F. GOODWIN, of Metuchen, county of Middlesex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new "and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved washing-machine; and

Figure 2 represents a vertical section through the tub and its turn-table or carrying-wheel.

It is a fact well understood by those familiar' with the process of washing clot-hes, that to effect the l thorough cleansing of the same in as expeditious a manner as possible they must be subjected to concussion or pounding in order that when immersed in or saturated with water, the water may be rapidly expressed from or forced through the interstices and between the fibers, so as to bear outwith it the foreign matter, and in view of this fact it has been common from time imniemorial to place the clothing to be washed in deep tubs or barrels, and covering them with water, to subject them to the action of a heavy pounder, to which a swinging or vibratory motion was frequently imparted to assist in the operation by rolling the lower enlarged end ofthe pounder upon the articles to be washed, thereby effecting the displacement of a larger volume of water and serving partially to stir up and change the position of the articles operated upon.

My invention is based upon a recognition of this principle; and consists in a novel construction of ma` chine whereby the articles to be washed are subjected to a pounding and rolling action similar to that above described as the ordinary process of effecting the cleansing by hand, in the manner and by means sul, stantially as will now be explained.

In the accompanying drawing- A represents the base or platform of the machine;

B B, uprights mounted thereon; and

O, a cross-beam or tie uniting the uprights or standards BA at or near midway of their length.

The upper ends of the u-prights B are slotted, as grown at b, to receive. a second adjustable cross-piece,

The transverse bars or pieces C C' are perforated tol form bearings for sliding rods or plungers D, the perforation in the upper bar C and the upper ends of the-shanks D being, by preference, squared to'prevent the rotation of the rods D.

The lower ends of rods D are provided with arms or brackets in which are mounted horizontal rollers, E, composed in this instance each of a central hub or shaft coated with a soft rubber ring, and const-itutin g a yielding elastic pounder.

The upper ends of rods D are provided with pins, nuts, or collars, whith prevent them from dropping out of their bearings in transverse bars, C C', and midway between the bars O C the shanks or rods D are provided with disks or collars, D', either made to rotate lfreely thereon or rigidly secured thereto, and provided with horizontal spurs armed with friction rollers (l.

Between the collars or disks and the upper transverse bar C the shanks Dnare surrounded by spiral springs, d', of the required strength, so arranged that their tension shall be exert-ed to force the plunger-s downward. l F is a horizontal shaft mounted iu bearings in uprights B, and provided at one end with a crank, F, or other means of rotating the shaft either by hand or other power applied thereto.

The shaft F is armed centrally with S-shaped cams keyed or otherwise rmly secured thereto, and arranged in close proximity to the plungers D, and in such relation to the collars D or rollers d mounted thereon that during rotation of the shaft said cams will alternately operate to raise the plunger to the desired height, overcoming the Weight of the same and the resistance of the springs d', until the roller escapes from the cam and allows plunger to suddenly descend, forced down by its own weight and the tension of spring cl', and thereby, through the elastic roller or pounder E attached to the lower end of the plunger, giving the desired blow or pounding action.

G is a horizontal rotating spur-wheel disk or turntable mounted on a central spindle which has a bearing in the base A provided on its upper face with a socket or a band, g, for receiving' and holding the tub H in the desired position relative thereto, and to the pounding rollers E.

I is an upright shaft stepped at its lower end in base A or in a plate, a, mounted on said base, the upper end of said shaft passing through the transverse bar C, and receiving a bearing therein.

'Ihe lower end of shaft I is armed with a small spurwheel, I', which meshes with and drives the turn-table G, the upper end of said shaft being provided with a bevel wheel, J, which engages with and receives motion from a corresponding bevel wheel on shaft` F. By this arrangement of gearing, whenever motion is imparted to shaft F for operation of the plungers D and pounders E, a rotary motion is also imparted to the table G and tub H containing the articles to be washed, and the pounding rollers E are thereby caused to roll over the articles passing under them, thereby facilitating the removal ofthe foreign mattei', while at the same time all danger of stretching or injuring the fabric is eftectually avoided.

To prevent the splashing action of the pounders I propose to attach a band or hoop which will fit within or other suitable fastening devices are withdrawn, the' b ar O', and with it the plnngers D and pounders E, are raised until the lat-ter are withdrawn from the tub; the pins are then placed underneath the bar O' for holding it,.and the tub may be removed or placed in position, as desired.

Instead ofthe rotating tub operating as described, where large and heavy washing is to be accomplished, as for hotels, if found desirable,anV elongated tub or trough of any required dimensionsmay be substituted, to whicha direct reciprocating motion may be imparted bymeans of toothed racks arranged on opposite sides of a segment or hall` wheel attached to shaft I, in place of the spur-Wheel I. lIn this case, the pounding rollers will be arranged in aline, parallel What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lei` ters Patent, is` l 1. The rotating tub, or its equivalent, in combination with the yielding or elastic pounding rollers, op-

erating substantially as described.

2. The combination ot' the rotating tub H, with pounders E, so constructed as to rotate in the forked plungers D, substantially as set forth.

3. In a washing-machine, the cogged tum-table G, and connecting mechanism for rotating it, in combination with the removable tub H.

" WM. F. GOODWIN.

Witnesses:

ALEX. MAHoN, 1I. H. DoUBLEnAY. 

